Saturday, 8 November 2014

SATURDAY CRITTERS - Hippopotamus

Last Saturday I showed you Elephants which turned out to be a very popular post, however this Saturday it is the turn of the Hippopotamus. I am sure most of you know all about the Hippopotamus
however I will give you some facts that perhaps not all of you will know and at theend of this post, I will tell you a personal story.

The name Hippopotamus comes from the Ancient Greek
‘river horse’.

Hippos bask on the shoreline and secrete an oily red
substance, which gave rise to the myth that they sweat blood. The liquid is
actually a skin moistener and sunblock that may also provide protection against
germs.

An adult Hippo needs to resurface every 3 – 5mins to
breathe. The process of surfacing and breathing is automatic, and even a hippo
sleeping underwater will rise and breathe without waking.

They are only territorial while in the water. Both
reproduction and birth occur in the water. Hippo calves weigh approximately
45kg at birth and can suckle on land or underwater by closing their ears and
nostrils. Each female has only one calf every two years. Soon after birth,
mother and young join schools that provide some protection against crocodiles,
lions, and hyenas.

Despite its stocky shape and short legs, it can easily
outrun most humans. Hippos have been clocked at 30 km/h over short distances.

Hippos will travel on land for up to 10km to feed. They
spend four to five hours grazing and can consume 68 kg of grass each night.
Considering their enormous size, a hippo's food intake is relatively low.

The hippopotamus is one of the most aggressive creatures in the world and is often regarded as one of the most dangerous animals in Africa. However, if threatened on land it will often run for water.

Their
closest living relatives are cetaceans (whales, porpoises, etc.)

A group of hippos in known as a ‘herd’, ‘pod’, ‘dale’
or ‘bloat’.

Hippos typically live for around 45 years.

The IUCN classified the Hippo as having vulnerable
status in 2008. The population is in decline; declining most dramatically in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Now for my promised story.

I worked in
the French Republic of Congo in 1990 as a Nurse/ Doctor and sometimes we would
go out to the villages to do children's inoculations and one time we had to cross
a river. We had to use a dug out tree with
no seats so we had to hunker down making sure our equipment and us would not over
balance. Half way over, the nurse who
was with me who did not speak perfect English informed me that this river was
very dangerous due to the ‘horse like’ animals that could upend the canoe!! She could not find the right word for the animal
and I could not work it out as I was trying to keep my balance and not end up in the river!

Only when we got over to the
other side, did I realise the animal was Hippopotamus!! Oh dear!
I was more scared coming back and was informed that recently a Hippo
had indeed overturned a canoe and a man lost his life. I was VERY relieved to
make the return journey in one piece!!

Hello Margaret, awesome post. The hippo is one of my favorite animals at the zoo. I can only imagine what it would be like to see these animals in the wild. I enjoyed your story too. Cool photos and video.. Thank you so much for linking up! Have a happy weekend!

Great pictures Margaret. I saw hippos in Kenya, Africa many years ago and they are truly awesome animals which have to be treated with respect. I believe one or more caused trouble at Lake Naivasha about the time we visited there.

Oh gosh, not sure what happened to my comment. Here goes again. I've always wondered about the meaning to their name. You always capture the most unique views with your lens, it's so enjoyable to see your world.

This was a scary boat trip for sure! The only thing worse would have been crocs! I had thought hippos would charge you on dry land, so that is not so? Forty five years is a long time for an animal to live! I found it fascinating that they will do the rising up and down while under water without even waking!

I really enjoyed this post! What an exciting life you have led, once working in Africa. It's so great that you've been able to get back and take such wonderful photos. I did learn some things about the hippos!

Enjoyed reading all the facts about the hippos and the exciting story. I would be so scare to have to cross that river again. Very interesting that the babies can be feed underwater! Wonderful pictures.

Wonderful hippo pictures,best I've ever seen. But they are topped by your amazing memory. What a story! You have had the most amazing life. No wonder your daughter and sil are comfortable on their African adventure.

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About Me

I have retired from a medical background, from teaching a 3 year City and Guilds; and also running a Bed and Breakfast. I have taken up bird watching later in life however I became very enthusiastic from the beginning and was greatly encouraged by other bird watchers. For the past 8 years I have led a bird group in my town and have become a guest speaker on cruise shipstalking about Birds around the world. I have travelled quite a bit,in particular to Australia where one of my daughters lives. I have now as many birding friends there as at home in Northern Ireland. I love Nature and being able to share that with others of like mind. I also like photography and do my best to photograph birds although I sometimes get a bit frustrated as my zoom is just not powerful enough.

My daughter and family that were in Australia have now moved to Malawi to work and I have visited them several times as well as visiting Zambia. I.live in Northern Ireland which is part of the UK and it is a beautiful place to live however I love travelling and wil continnue to travel aslong as I am able. I would love to go to visit bloggers that I follow and they are always very welcome here in N. Ireland.